Closing Date: 22nd March, 2026
Description:
Definition:Definition: Under general Administrative direction of the Community Manager or assigned Assistant Community Manager, directs, manages and supervises the overall administrative operations of the Office of Conflict Counsel, which handles cases referred from other government legal departments – the Office of the General Counsel, the Office of the Community Prosecutor, the Defense Advocate Office, and the Legal Services Office – due to reasons of legal or ethical conflict. Directs all department personnel in duties assigned for representation in conflict cases involving civil and criminal matters in (SRPMIC) Tribal Court and certain appropriate cases in Arizona state court. Ensures that cases requiring conflict representation are reviewed, assigned, and monitored in a timely and equitable manner. Provides supervision, training, and professional development of government-employed and contract attorneys and advocates, is responsible for case distribution, and upholds the highest standards of legal practice. This is treated as an FLSA exempt job class.
Essential Functions: (Essential functions may vary among positions, but may include the following tasks, knowledge, abilities, skills, and other characteristics. This list of tasks ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of tasks performed by all positions in this classification).
Examples of Tasks
Supervision: Supervises the work of legal and support staff to ensure timely, effective and professional representation of clients.
- Recruits, hires, trains, and supervises legal and support staff.
- Plan, organize, manage and direct all general areas of staff responsibility and specific personnel job assignments.
- Develop administrative policies, procedures and forms for the department.
- Performs timely evaluations of personnel job performance; ensures that all staff and contractors adhere to established office policies, reporting standards, and billing procedures, and that every conflict case is handled in full compliance with professional standards, court rules, and community policies.
- Determines appropriate corrective and disciplinary action, up to and including termination as needed.
- Mentor and/or coach staff for successful completion of assigned tasks and achievement of operational goals.
- Promotes the existence of a team environment and facilitates positive motivation.
- Encourages staff growth and professional development with an emphasis on Community member development and promotion.
- Encourages staff participation in on-going training and professional development and strengthening of Individual skill levels.
- Assures staff are competently representing client(s) in all proceedings before the Salt River Community Court and other jurisdictions as required.
- Participate in case management and disposition.
Operations: Manages the day-to-day administrative operations of the department and coordinates internal operations with appropriate Tribal administration staff to ensure that administrative goals and planning objectives are being met
- Adherence to the objectives inherent in the operational structure outlined in the Tribal Operations Organizational Chart and the Departmental Flow Chart.
- Keeps the Community Manager, or assigned Assistant Community Manager and Tribal administration informed on matters that affect the conduct of the department in meeting overall objectives, functions and goals as outlined in the annual operational plan and budget
- Directs and oversees in-house program planning and development and engages in activities necessary for internal program development and implementation.
- Prepares quarterly administrative reports and annual budgets, including monitoring expenditures,
- Manages the annual budget in an efficient, effective, and fiscally responsible manner.
- Coordinates departmental operations with the Salt River Community Court, Office of the Community Prosecutor, Salt River Legal Services Office, Salt River Office of the General Counsel, Salt River Department of Corrections, and Salt River Police Department operations for the purpose of meeting overall objectives within the provision of the Tribal strategic planning.
- Develops and participates in Community outreach and legal education projects.
Legal Expertise: Apply Tribal, State, and Federal law, as appropriate in the disposition of all criminal, civil, and juvenile conflict cases, with particular emphasis on application of the customary law of the Community.
- Provide legal services and representation to eligible clients, i.e. interviewing clients, providing legal advice, conducting necessary research, and drafting correspondence and legal documents.
- Oversee the intake and assignment of conflict cases, reviewing each case for complexity and subject matter before being assigned to a qualified attorney, advocate or contracted provider, ensuring appropriate representation while maintaining balanced caseloads across both staff and contractors.
- Oversee all staff and contract providers engaged in conflict work, including maintaining up-to-date rosters, verifying qualifications and compliance with licensing requirements, and serving as the primary contact for case-specific questions or issues.
- Draft and prepare legal documents, pleadings, motions, briefs and appeals.
- Represent clients in tribal, state, and federal forums, whether in court, administrative hearings, or other appropriate forums.
- Facilitates and maintains positive working relations with the Salt River Community Court, Probation, Office of the Community Prosecutor, Salt River Legal Services Office, Salt River Office of the General Counsel, Salt River Department of Corrections, Salt River Police Department, Salt River Social Services, Salt River Behavioral Health Services, Salt River Education Division, and other agencies to maximize service delivery to Community members.
Planning: Participates in inter-agency efforts to enhance service delivery including, but not limited to, planning and participating in committees to draft court rules and in committees focused on strategic and long-term planning.
Miscellaneous: Performs other job-related duties as may be requested by the Community Manager or Assistant Community Manager.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics:
- Knowledge of the culture, customs, history and traditions of the SRPMIC as it may apply to the disposition of legal matters before the Community Court.
- Knowledge of the socio-economic conditions of tribal jurisdictions as they relate to legal issues.
- Knowledge of tribal government and organizational structure.
- Knowledge of Indian law, particularly as to its application in tribal court.
- Knowledge of SRPMIC, State, and Federal laws.
- Knowledge of SRPMIC Tribal Court policies, procedures, and administrative orders.
- Knowledge of case law appropriate to the defense being prepared.
- Knowledge of case preparation procedures for trial presentation.
- Knowledge of legal research methods, legal research software, and use of databases.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices for managing a conflict legal office that handles all aspects of criminal, civil, and juvenile practice.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of employee supervision.
- Knowledge of searching for and writing grant proposals.
- Skill in interpreting and applying statues, ordinances, and other laws as they pertain to cases.
- Skill in interpreting and applying rules, regulations, and policies as they pertain to cases.
- Skill in case preparation and presentation in jury and bench trials.
- Skill in pretrial negotiation and plea agreement dispositions.
- Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with Community administration, Council Members, Community Members, and a variety of clients and partner departments.
- Skill in managing a tribal government department, including preparing and implementing a budget and supervising subordinate staff.
- Skill in communicating and instructing others using both technical and non-technical language as appropriate to provide legal counsel and explanations to those for whom the subject matter is unfamiliar and/or difficult to understand.
- Skill in supervising, mentoring, and evaluating attorneys, advocates, and support staff, especially those who are new to legal practice.
- Skill in developing and delivering training and professional development programs for staff and contractors.
- Skill in negotiating and problem-solving to resolve conflicts within the office or with outside providers.
- Skill in preparing and managing budgets, reports, and financial documentation.
- Skill in using case management systems and legal practice software for tracking cases, making case assignments, and reporting.
- Ability to get along well and cooperate with others.
- Ability to train, manage and direct both support and professional legal staff.
- Ability to oversee departmental operations, manage budget allocations, and prepare timely reports as required.
- Ability to coach and mentor staff for the successful completion of assigned tasks and achievement of operational goals;
- Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with adm